Former Ireland U20 hooker Adam McBurney is preparing for a transfer from Edinburgh to Connacht at the conclusion of the current season. Over the past three seasons at Edinburgh and a brief stint at Gloucester this year, McBurney has participated in an impressive 24 matches.
The 27-year-old, originally from Ballymena, progressed through the Ulster academy before leaving the province in 2021. During his time at Ulster, McBurney played a total of 43 matches and also represented Ireland at the U20 World Championship in 2016, where he formed a strong front row partnership with Irish prop Andrew Porter. Additionally, he had the opportunity to play alongside notable talents such as James Ryan and Max Deegan.
In anticipation of his upcoming move to Connacht, McBurney expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I’m really looking forward to making the move to Connacht next season. I’ve had positive discussions with Pete and his team there and I’m really impressed by where the club is going and the potential for me to make an impact there. I can’t wait to move back to Ireland, get settled and help the club achieve success.”
Meanwhile, Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins also shared his thoughts on the acquisition, acknowledging McBurney’s wealth of experience despite his relatively young age. “Adam is a player with a huge amount of experience gathered in a relatively short period,” Wilkins said. “He’s still only 27 but has played URC, Premiership, Champions Cup and Challenge Cup rugby so will have plenty to offer us. We look forward to welcoming him to Connacht and providing an environment for him to continue to grow his game, and I’ve no doubt he will become an important member of the squad next season.”
It’s evident that Connacht is making significant moves in bolstering their ranks, with McBurney’s signing following the recent announcement of Piers O’Conor’s arrival from Bristol Bears. As the team gears up for the upcoming season, the addition of McBurney certainly poses an exciting prospect for both the player and the club as they set their sights on achieving success in the future.